ANDREW Skea, a seed potato grower from Angus, is among the five new board members announced by AHDB Potatoes. The new appointments are replacing five members who came to the end of their service this March.

Mr Skea has been selling ware and seed potatoes to customers across Europe for more than a decade, from a family farm that specialised in potatoes and veg long before that. SOPA-registered Skea Organics supplies a wide range of new, specialist, and heritage potato varieties.

Andrew is also chair of the Pre Basic Growers Association and a past president of the British Potato Trade Association. In addition to seed potatoes, the family farm produces organic cattle, sheep, cereals and vegetables. He said: “Skea Organics has customers across Europe and as such we have a keen interest in how the market develops post-Brexit. AHDB has produced excellent ‘horizon’ reports on how Brexit may affect the industry, and I am looking forward to working with my fellow board members on this subject.”

The other new members are Daniel Metheringham from North Yorkshire, Jonathan Papworth and Will Shakeshaft both from Cambridgeshire, and Michael Welham from Essex.

Speaking of the appointments, strategy director for AHDB Potatoes, Rob Clayton, said: “The new board members provide AHDB Potatoes with a link to industry. This is as crucial as ever; in what is a rapidly changing marketplace due to the uncertainty created by Brexit. The incoming individuals, particularly when combined with the existing board representatives, give AHDB the benefit of experience and new perspectives from across the sector as well as good geographical coverage from around the levy paying area. Our board is a vital part of delivering our strategy and I am looking forward to working with our new members.”

AHDB will be announcing a new chair of the potatoes board later this year.